”A duel...?" Kei's brow furrowed as he heard those words out of the stranger, briefly processing this new information before it sunk in. He snapped out of his daze and scrambled to his feet, although a bit unsteadily. Kei was hardly in a state to be dueling right now, but this guy might've been just as, if not more, dangerous than Shinrei was. The boy took a step back and reached out for his disk, until he realised it was still strapped to his arm.

”Is that why you brought me here?!" Kei accused the stranger. He looked down at his Duel Disk again, but it didn't spring to life despite his deck being set. ”...! Partner-" he quickly realised, patting himself down. After the duel with Shinrei, Kei's Silent Swordsman had been lying on the floor. When he reached into his pocket, though, the card was there as he pulled it out. First, the boy breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he looked straight back at the stranger. ”...Thanks," he said bashfully. Kei couldn't have grabbed that by his own power, and he knew it. Whoever this shaggy-looking dude was, the fact remains he got Kei and Swordsman both away from Shinrei. Maybe he wasn't that bad of a guy after all.

Kei took a deep breath, then slotted Swordsman back into his deck. The Duel Disk finally sprang to life. With some flair to it, Kei said: ”Alright! I accept this duel... ack!" but was quickly shot down by the aching all over his body. It... probably wasn't a good idea to be dueling right now, but Kei was never one to make the rational choice. With a pained expression, Kei demanded from his opponent: ”You're taking the first move!"

The kid really did like to talk, Haruo would ponder to themselves as they would simply nod along, Sure perhaps that was the reason he brought the kid here. Perhaps not. Everyone liked to duel anyway so it would of been inevitable they'd duel sooner or later, friendly or unfriendly terms, thankfully though the kid didn't outright accuse Haruo of being some malignant individual hellbent on destroying the natural way of things, so at least it made this a bit more jovial, and Haruo would respond to that simple kindness in kind.

"Alright Kid, Sure. I'll go" He'd say eyes carefully focused on Kai, in order to see anything that could happen. "Dr-Oh wait its my turn first right right." He'd say gently smacking his fist against his head. "Ok then i'll open with this, I activate my spell card. Into the Void"He'd say placing it on his duel disk. "With this i can draw 1 card" He'd say as he did so. "Draw~!" With a flourish he added it to his hand before looking at Kai.

"Well, I'll set one of my faithful friends, and a little bit of a surprise forr you too." He'd say setting a monster and spell or trap, hard to tell. "Though of course Into the Void has a strict little payment, I have to discard my hand. Thus~ I'll be throwing away these last few cards of mine. You might see them another time. You might not." He'd say plainly.

"Well, with that, you can rest assured i'm not running any trickery that activates from within my hand at least." He'd joke though his eyes remained focused. "Turn end"

A vein was about to pop out the side of Kei's head as the stranger opened up the duel. ”It's not 'Kid'... my name is Kei! Kei!" he shouted, clearly not happy about being called out for his youthful appearance. The boy would carefully watch his opponent's moves, so it shocked him when the stranger discarded a large chunk of his opening hand just like that. "Is he crazy?" Kei thought to himself. With only two cards to protect the man, Kei made up his mind to come out the gate swinging.

”Alright, it's my turn! Draw!" the boy opened up, swiping the first card from the top of his deck. He gave it a brief glance and smirked. ”Hah! I'll use this right away! With Reinforcement of the Army, I can add the best card in my deck to my hand!" Kei gleefully explained, his duel disk ejecting a single card from the middle deck. Once he'd grabbed a hold of it, the duel disk shuffled the cards automatically. ”Now I use another spell: Double summon! I can summon two monsters from my hand instead of only one this turn! First up is Blade Knight!"

Kei slammed a card down on his disk and from that, a blue-armored knight appeared on the field. Then the boy smirked as he picked up the card added to his hand earlier that turn. ”Now for the best card in my deck! My one and only partner: Silent Swordsman LV3!"

A small breeze passed through the back alley, right as a portal opened next to Blade Knight. Out of it jumped the tiny warrior with his oversized sword, his one visible eye focused straight onto the stranger's set cards.

Blade Knight: 1600 ATK
Silent Swordsman: 1000 ATK

Kei dished out some orders for his monsters: ”Alright! Blade Knight, attack his monster! Partner, you follow up with a direct attack!" and with that command, Blade Knight slashed clean through the set monster. A brief image of a treasure box with teeth flashed by, before shattering into particles. The attack was a success and Silent Swordsman wasted no time in following through, dashing forward and slashing the opponent in his side.

Haruo: 4000 > 3000 LP

”The first damage is mine! Turn end!"

After the direct attack of the swordsmen landed, Haruo would smile as he would activate his facedown card, "I activate Damage Condenser, By Discarding 1 card from my hand, I can special summon a monster from my deck with equal to or less attack points then the damage I took, I choose. Mystic Piper!" He'd declare as the creature erupted from the trap card onto the field with a merry dance.

Mystic Piper: ATK 0

"Great job! Kid" Haruo would say giving Kei a thumbs up, as he would unironically be happy that the other duelist was at least pumped up for it, but of course he wouldn't make it so easy afterall. "I draw!" he would say as he drew the card to his hand. Eying up the field he would wipe his forehead "What an aggressive opener, I like your style, Keep up that tempo and this will be a really fun duel indeed." He'd say as he'd place a monster onto his duel disk. It would clunk and then shimmer as the monster with a pipe rose to his side of the field.

"Its time to shine Mystic Piper!" He'd say with a flourish as the monster began to play a serenadious tune. "But he won't be here for long! I activate his effect by tributing him, i can draw and reveal reveal the top card of my deck and if its a level 1 monster i can special summon it and draw a card. Here goes!" He'd say as the piper began to play, he'd flip the top card of his deck and smile ear to ear. "I summon a faithful attendent from beyond the grave. Skull Servant!" He'd say as Mystic Piper would disintegrate into particles, exhausted from its playing. As a skeleton in purple robes would rise up. He would also draw his additional card.

Skull Servant: ATK 300

"With my faithful attendent at my side, your monsters are bound to scamper. I activate Triangle Force!" He'd say as he'd play the spell card, Skull Servant would let out a cry, as its body began to swell with the power of the mystical triangles of ancient egypt.

Skull Servant: ATK 300 -> 2000

"Its effect makes the attack of a level 2 or lower monster 2000 until the end of this turn, but thats not all. Let me show you what only weaklings can understand, when our back is against the wall, we'll keep fighting no matter what. Continuous Spell card! Pride of the Weak." He'd say as the second card rose on his side of the field. Depicting Skull Servant in a desperate battle for survival.

"Go! Battle Phase, Destroy Blade Knight!" He'd say as the Skull Servant would rush forward pulling back a skeletal fist, before crashing it through Kei's Monster, He smiled as there was no interventions, The Blade Knight thoroughly destroyed by the efforts of his attendant. His Continuous spell card began to glow. "The effect of 'Pride of the weak' activates, if a level 2 or lower monster i control deals battle damage to you and i have no cards in hand, I draw 2 cards he'd say as he did so adding them to his hand with a fluid motion.

Kei: 4000 LP > 3600 LP

"Now i'll set this card, and let my Attendant rest." He'd say as his Skull servant would explode from the overwhelming power of the triangle force, being sent to his graveyard. "Your move kid." He'd say obviously not bothering to learn Kei's name just yet, or maybe he didn't quite have respect for the boy. Afterall they had just met.

”Blade Knight...!" Kei would cry out as Skull Servant smashed right though his monster, dropping his LP down a tiny bit. The way this ragged stranger played was causing Kei no end of confusion. He'd left his field wide open at the end of the turn, and somehow, Kei had a feeling that the man had avoided attacking Silent Swordsman on purpose. Only one thing left for him to do at this point: Declare the start of his turn, and...

”Draw!"

Kei gave a brief glance to the card he'd gotten into his hand, smirked and put it with the rest. He then threw his hand forward. ”Dunno what you're planning, but thanks for leaving my partner on the field! In my standby phase, he'll evolve into his true self! Let's go, Silent Swordsman LV5!" Kei excitedly shouted. The tiny soldier on his field was basked in that familiar white glow, morphing and growing taller before both duelist's eyes. LV5 brandished his blade in an imposing manner, now grown more fierce than before.

Silent Swordsman LV5: 2300 ATK

”I'm not done yet! With 'The Warrior Returning Alive' I'll bring back Blade Knight from my graveyard to the hand, and then... summon! Marauding Captain, who's effect brings Blade Knight with him!" Kei would continue his turn unabated. The troop's commander would raise up on the field, call out Blade Knight with a rallying cry and cause Kei to have three monsters on his field in one fell swoop.

Blade Knight: 1600 ATK
Marauding Captain: 1200 ATK

Kei narrowed his eyes at his opponent's field. That one set card was worrying him; it was probably a trap to stop Kei's attacks. Thus, playing it safe, he would attack with his weaker monsters first. ”Marauding Captain! Blade Knight! Launch consecutive direct attacks!" Kei ordered his warriors. Both of their blades cut cleanly across the ragged man, who didn't put up an ounce of resistance.

Haruo: 3000 > 200LP

Kei fistbumped the air in celebration. ”Hell yeah! Big damage, baby!" Though his celebrating might've been premature, with the trap card not stopping Kei's assault he was all but certain he had this duel won. The adrenaline even made him forget how tired his body actually was. ”I dunno what you wanted from me old man, but I've got this in the bag! Let's finish this with a direct attack, partner!" sounded Kei's order to Silent Swordsman. The warrior slid the flat side of his sword across his arm, then grabbed onto its hilt with both hands. Leaping up into the air, he'd come down on the stranger for a slash. It seemed to strike true, causing an explosion. Even though the ragged man's field was covered in smoke, Kei was sure to let his thoughts be known.

”Alright! I win!"

Kei's previous excitement vanished just as quick when he saw his opponent had survived. ”No way... but how?!"

The puffball on Haruo's side of the field would disappiate having used its body to block the attack. Causing Haruo's life-total to remain completely unchanged. "Don't think you'll be doing damage that easily." Haruo would say. "By Discarding my Kuriboh, I can make the damage from your attack zero!" He'd say as he discarded it.

Kei felt very foolish at that moment. He looked down at his hand and reluctantly picked out a card. ”...Damnit! I'll set a card and end my turn!" he said, grimace on his face.

"My turn then! Draw" Haruo would say as he'd look at his deck, a smile crept upon his face from ear to ear, "Alright, Its time to take this to a whole new level. I activate One or Eight!" He'd say as the card would flip up on his side of the field. "When I use this card, something fun happens, I reveal the top card of my deck, if its a monster that is level 1 or level 8, I can summon it to my side of the field. Otherwise your life points become 8000. Lets roll this chance." Haruo would say as he'd flip the top card of his deck.

Immediately out of nowhere a wind would begin to blow. The pressure of the battle seemed to intensify as Haruo's eyes would lock with Kei's. He would turn the card around to display it. "King of Skull Servants, It is a level 1 monster, and therefore I special summon it!" At once for just a brief moment there would be a chilling silence, before erupting from the ground, hand first. Crawling out of its grave, A purple robed figure would stand to full height. Before immediately taking the same posture as Haruo.

"This is me, This is who I am, I am the King of Skull Servants." Haruo would state, The Jaw of his monster moving in tandem, two voices that were perfectly in sync. "I am also Haruo and i'll keep protecting the weak as a King should." He'd say as he'd flow back into the tempo of the duel immediately. "King of Skull Servant effect." He'd say as his Monster and himself would both erupt into a purple flare of Spirit. Surging with Power.

"For every level 1 monster in my graveyard, We gain 500 Attack points." Haruo would say letting out a roar, joined in tandem by his monster. The weak skeletons stats would quickly soar.

King of Skull Servants ATK 0 -> ATK 4000

"No matter what, no matter who, The spirits of the weak innocents will always find shelter behind us and thus We will always be empowered by their constant cheers and support." Haruo would say as he would activate a spell card. "We'll activate Twin Swords of Flashing Light - Tryce, this equip spell allows us to attack twice, but we lose 500 attack points. We also have to discard a card to equip it to us, but i'll discard this level one monster so our attack points don't change!" He would say as he'd place it onto his disk.

"Battle, We won't give you a chance to make it to your next turn!" Haruo would say as he would pull back his fist, Skull Servant doing the same, striking forward in synchronized motion, they would punch through Marauding Captain, "Second Attack!" He'd say holding an invisible pair of swords as he'd make a V shaped motion that was mimicked by the actual sword wielding King Servants, Carving straight through Kei's Blade Knight.

There was an Eruption of Smoke as Haruo would lean back wondering if he had won.

Silence hung in the air for an uncomfortably long time. The smoke on Kei's field slowly cleared and, behind its veil, revealed himself to still be standing, though unsteady. ”Not... yet!" he groaned. His LP counter appeared next to him, the number on it reading a solid 2400. Next to Kei was a trap card that had been glowing brightly ever since the smoke cleared. ”Before you attacked my monsters... I activated... Nutrient Z! With another 4000LP, I survived your attack...!"

"So you survived huh? Seems like we are not the only ones with tricks up their sleeve to survive death against the odds. Good job, kid." Haruo spoke, giving a thumbs up that was mimicked by his monster. The two were in perfect sync with each other. "The effect of our Pride of the Weak Activates. Since we destroyed one of your monsters by battle and we have no cards in hand, we draw 2 cards. Turn end."

”Ngh... It's not kid, it's Kei!" he yelled, drawing his card to mark the start of his turn. The boy was breathing heavily from the exhaustion that had slowly been intensifying, reaching a breaking point when this new monster had appeared. The way it and his owner moved in perfect harmony was downright unnerving. It reminded Kei far too much of that Red Ogre duelist. If this guy was the same as him, then Kei absolutely could not afford to lose this duel...!

The boy looked down at his hand. He didn't have many options, but he knew one thing: he needed to do something about that monster, or he had no hope of winning this duel. ”I activate Block Attack!" Kei shouted, desperately activating the card. King of the Skull Servants was forced into defense position, switching its grand 4000ATK for a nonexistent 0DEF. ”I'll break through with this... let's go, Partner! Silent Severing Slash!" Kei instructed LV5, who dashed forward and cleanly sliced through the skeleton. But unfortunately for Kei, it wouldn't stay down for long. Just as the King crumpled into a pile of bones, those selfsame bones begun reassembling themselves. Before long, the King of Skull Servants stood proud and tall on the field again, his 4000ATK staring the boy down again.

"Sorry kid, but we can't afford to fall that easily," the king and Haruo both said, each opening the palm of their hand and shaking their head. "The little ones count on us to protect them... and we inherit their wishes. By banishing a LV1 monster in our graveyard, our faithful Skull Servant, we revive from our destruction."

Kei grimaced, staring down at the last card in his hand. He paused, a hesitant ”..." as he looked down at his one remaining option. ”I'll set one card, and..." Kei trailed off, looking up at his monster. Silent Swordsman just kept his eyes focused on the king.

...Kei didn't want to end his turn. No matter how exhausted he felt right now, his partner had been through much worse. Once again today, he was facing down a 4000ATK monster. During the next turn, the king would attack Silent Swordsman LV5, definitively destroying it. Kei would have another 700LP and live to the next turn, but he couldn't do a damn thing to protect his partner. He clutched his fist in frustration and bit his lip. ”...I..."

"It's okay. I'll protect you."

That same voice, again, reached out to Kei. He looked up, but his partner was still staring straight ahead. Kei was sure of it this time, though- sure of who that voice belonged to. The boy looked up at Haruo. ”...Hey, you." he addressed him. ”'Not harmonious, or parasitic.' That's what you said, right?" Kei asked, determination in his eyes. ”I think... I know what you mean now. I've been hearing his voice for a while now..." he said, looking down at his hand. Then the young duelist clutched it, threw it to the side and stared straight at his opponent. It seemed he caught his second wind, brimming with fighting spirit. ”After this duel is over... tell me everything! Tell me about my partner! I end my turn!"

Haruo's eyes would widen with a glow of pure excitement, his lips curling up into a fiendish grin of pure excitement! Yes! that was it, that's the type of fighting spirit he wanted to see. That's the type of person he could put his all behind! A kindred spirit through and through. But this duel wasn't over just yet. No. That's the type of person that any could put their will behind.

"You've got us pumped kid, Your fighting spirit is getting this atmosphere all kind of invigorated! We accept those terms, course, We are still going to give you a real thrashing beforehand!" Haruo would say as he drew his card with a flourish, "Draw!" Their words in sync with their monster as he pointed at Kei. "But can you still prove that your fighting spirit is more then just a false bravado!" Haruo would declare.

Winding back his fist, the synchronized spirit of human and duel monster would attack together. "We attack your Silent Swordsman!"

The King of Skull Servants leapt forward, intent in striking down Kei's monster. Silent Swordsman closed his eyes, ready to take the brunt of that attack. One person, however, was not yet ready to give in that easily.

”I open my Trap Card: Doble Passe!"

Kei's voice rang loud and clear, his trap card springing to life. His monster's eyes shot open, the sword-wielding warrior looking back in amazement at his controller. Kei had one of his eyes closed as he gave his partner a pained grin. Though he mouthed no words, the meaning was loud and clear: ”Don't worry, partner... I'll protect you this time!"

The boy clutched his fist, explaining: ”With the Trap Card, Doble Passe, one of my opponent's attacks becomes a direct attack... and in return, my own partner gets to attack directly himself!"

Kei knew his life was only 2400. It didn't hold a candle to King's 4000 ATK and, this time, Kei had no more tricks to bail him out. If it was to protect his partner, though, Kei would endure any pain. He'd learned from his last duel the kind of fear that runs through you when you face down an insurmountable opponent. His partner knew the kind of risk that Kei was taking, so Swordsman wouldn't think to let that kind of resolve go to waste. Brandishing his blade on the side of his arm, Swordsman deftly sidestepped King's punch which continued on straight to Kei. ”GACK-!" he cried out in pain as the hologram's fist went straight through the abdomen. Kei went down on his knees and his LP dropped to 0, but the duel wasn't over yet. ”This... is all I've got! GO!" he yelled out as words of encouragement. ”Silent..." Kei said as his own monster rushed forward, the sun shining from behind him. ”Severing...!" Clad in a veil of shadow, Silent Swordsman leapt up in the air.

”SLASH!"

Throwing wide his arms, Haruo would take the full brunt of the attack with a smile upon their face. He, and his other was impressed, beyond so that this kid would so quickly resort to using themselves. Thrown onto his back by the power of the slash.

He would chuckle, and then laugh as the duel began to fade around them, his life points chipping down to zero as he would have been left wide open for that counter attack. A clash of the spirits, and his new 'friend' had most certainly proved themselves in Haruo's eyes.

"Now that. That is why We thought you were interesting." He'd say his mood chipper and upbeat, he was in high spirits now as he'd get to his feet. "Alright. You've learnt what We wanted you to learn, so its only fair we uphold our end of the bargin." He'd say leaning against a wall for support, looking down at his junior. "Go on then, Question away. We'll answer freely" Haruo would say, justifying his openess a reward from a king for such a thrilling battle.

Afterall, A friend in need is a friend indeed.

”Hah... haaah..." Kei panted heavily as the duel drew to a close. The holograms slowly faded into nothing, with Kei's partner looking back with an over-the-shoulder glance. The boy gave Swordsman a thumbs up as the monster started to fade out. Right before completely vanishing, Swordsman closed his eyes and betrayed the slightest hint of a smile. Ephemeral as it was, it seemed Kei's feelings got through in the end.

"Now that. That is why We thought you were interesting." the stranger told Kei, the both of them pulling themselves up from the floor. At least, Kei would attempt as much, but the two back-to-back duels had sapped him of all his strength. As soon as he got to his feet, Kei collapsed again and fell on his butt.

”I can't... too tired..." he complained in between his heavy breathing. The stranger seemed to pay it no mind, though.

"Alright. You've learnt what We wanted you to learn, so it's only fair we uphold our end of the bargain." He'd tell Kei. "Go on then, Question away. We'll answer freely"

The boy gave him a glare. ”Oh I will... I've got a ton of questions for you!" Kei said to the man. Before he asked any of them, though, Kei quickly caught the stranger up to speed. He explained the situation with the Red Ogre duelist, and how his friend ended up in a similar situation. ”You know something about that, right? About why people are acting like they're possessed or something?" he'd ask, not realizing how on-the-nose the question actually was. ”And why... why do I feel like I can hear my partner? What is all of this about? And how do you know Shinrei?! Why did you save me from him...?"

All of these were important questions, of course, but Kei still had one more thing he needed to know. One burning question at the back of his mind. He took a deep breath, focused and shouted: ”AND TELL ME YOUR NAME ALREADY!"

"Its Haruo, Or King of Skull Servants whichever you prefer." He'd say as he'd place a finger to his temples in ponderance at the questions asked of him before he made a flourishing hand movement.
"Well lets see, from the top, though you really shouldn't be asking so many questions allowed if your as tired as you say." He'd say with the tiniest hint of concern, but he was just stalling to formulate his answer properly.

"Firstly. Yes. Its likely they've been afflicted by a malevolent specter that wasn't quite right for them. Either they were rejecting it, or it was rejecting them, resulting in a improper harmony and leading to a possession taking place. Its not good for either of the two mind, one is being used as nothing more then a vehicle for the monster, and the monster themselves is placed in a unfamiliar position which can lead to further turmoil and conflict." Haruo would explain. "Of course, sometimes the compatibility can be perfect, which results in a perfect synchronicity like yours truly. Of course this doesn't extend to spirits that are already lingering around a person. Like your Silent Swordsmen, who is very much as real as you and I, and has their own thoughts and feelings, even if they align perfectly with yours." Haruo would finish summarizing his lecture before bringing the attention of Shinrei to hand.

"Oh and Shinrei? I've been running in opposition to some of his exorcism attempts for a while. He is taking a sledgehammer to all things even when a chisel would do just fine. He probably loathes me considerably" Haruo would laugh. "He's the type I'm sure to remember your face I'm sure, so do be careful."

Kei ruffled through his hair in frustration listening to Haruo trying to explain the situation. ”What are you even on about...?! Improper harmony and vessels..." Kei muttered as he tried to wrap his head around it. "Humans possessed by a malevolent spectre, like... like a ghost, right?" he'd try to reason with himself. The older not-quite-gentleman was talking about spirits too, and mentioned Kei's very own Silent Swordsman. Hearing that, he perked up. ”Wait, huh? You're not messing with me right?! Partner... partner is real? I really did hear him?"

It sounded too good to be true Kei. He'd always felt attached to the card for sure, felt a connection between the two of them. How could he not? Silent Swordsman was his secret weapon, his surefire pattern to victory. Kei pulled out the card to look at it. ”Partner... partner, are you there...?" he'd ask the card, getting nothing in response. Of course he didn't... the man must've made a mistake.

"Oh and Shinrei? I've been running in opposition to some of his exorcism attempts for a while. He is taking a sledgehammer to all things even when a chisel would do just fine. He probably loathes me considerably," Haruo would speak up again to snap Kei out of his daze. The boy looked back up as the man followed up with: "He's the type I'm sure to remember your face, so do be careful."

"Ngh... he can bring it! I won't lose next time...!" Kei tried to sound tough, but given him being on the floor as he said that and only managing to tie Haruo, it didn't seem to have much weight behind it. ”I don't get any of this... but if Shinrei's trying to hurt people... trying to hurt partner... then I just gotta beat him! I gotta stop him!" he'd declare with gusto. Kei wobbly rose to his feet, a fire in his eyes. He slid the silent swordsman in his hand back into his deck, shakily reaching his arm up. ”That's why... duel me again! I gotta... get stronger! Strong enough to beat even Shinrei!"

Kei was in no state to duel... but he sure looked ready to.

---

Aiya found herself making her way back home after her encounter with Tsukiko, having had some new things to ruminate on. As she walked through the gate to the dragon's shrine in Kaleido, she could hear some kind of thumping in the distance. It sounded like someone was causing some kind of rattle by smashing into something, just every once in a while.

Uknown to her was that a boy similar in age to her was kicking down the door to the shrine, locked from an obvious lack of anybody being home. "Damnit!" he shouted. "Open the damned door, old man...! You can't escape me forever!" he'd growl to himself, the frustration clear in his voice. The sight of his foot making a crack in the wood was that which Aiya was greeted with after coming up the stone staircase. She hadn't caught any of his mutterings but did see him wearing an unfamiliar school uniform to her, suggesting he wasn't from Kaleido. The boy himself hadn't taken any notice of Aiya, but if she called out to him, he wouldn't waste much time looking back over his shoulder to give her a glare and ask "Huh? Who the hell are you supposed to be?"

Aiya whom had fled the scene at the hospital before she could properly explain, was currently in a rather dour state of mind. The ideas that were going through her mind at the moment were in relation to the girl whom she had conversed with, and the state she had left the doctor in, That was the second time it had happened. The second time she had left someone in a poor state as a result of a duel. Was it a virus? Some sort of electric feedback in the duel disk? Sheer overstimulation? She couldn't place her thoughts on any realistic options for what could be causing this.

And that girl? Tsukiko, She had said she had recovered right. So maybe she shouldn't have such a guilty consciousness about it, But still it made Aiya frown that she was leaving people in such a poor state. Such thoughts as haunting as they were would be put aside when she saw what she assumed to be some random delinquent kicking the door of her old mans place, Having heard his frustrated growls, the words lost to her in their utterance, as she was ascending the stony steps

She'd speak up immediately as a result of hearing the sharp crack of wood beneath his foot. "You are aware that this is Shrine is the property of the 'Kotei' Family." She'd exclaim making reference to the prestigious heritage to which she belonged, despite her hating using her proper family name as an excuse for anything.

"Still, your a pretty long ways out for a delinquent, given your uniform." She'd movoe her hand to her head making sure her hair was done up neatly, as she'd thought she'd be welcoming a pretty rude and abrasive guest, but still have to show proper etiquette, as a caretaker of the shrine. "I assume your here to learn about this shrines cultural history? or maybe my grandfather had business with your dad or something." She'd ramble still not telling him exactly who she was just yet, given his rudeness. Mostly content to chastise him on the way he was acting before she finally getting her words out.

"The name is Aiya Tenshi, Daughter of Tsumugi Kotei." She'd say with a air of authority, coupled with a bow. "Now would you kindly stop being such a brat?"

"I know more about this damned shrine than you do," the boy growled back at her when she questioned his motives. "And what I'm doing here is none of your damn business. Get lost," he spat out, turning his head back to the door. But by some cruel twist of irony to him, Aiya deigned to finally give her name:

"The name is Aiya Tenshi, Daughter of Tsumugi Kotei."

The delinquent had readied his fist to punch the door since kicking hadn't worked out, but froze upon hearing what she'd said. "Tsumugi... Kotei..." he muttered, throwing his head back over his shoulder. "You..." he growled again, the frown on his face having turned to an ice cold glare. He fully turned, narrowing his eyes, getting a good look at her. He seemed to noticed something about her as his eyes widened, briefly, just for a little bit. Then, the boy laughed. He'd brushes his hand through his hair and bellowed it out, a mad laughter as he seems to have realised something. "Ahaha! Isn't that just wonderful! This once-noble shrine, left to rot in some spoiled little angel's care!"

He bitterly laughed it out for a bit, but then stopped himself. "Hey, you're a duelist right? Don't even bother to hide it. I can see those runts behind you. How about we practice for a bit?" he'd taunt her. The boy threw the backpack slung over his one shoulder to the floor, but not before pulling out a duel disk from it. "If you win, I'll leave this place alone. If I win, though, you'll be a good little girl and sit out while I have a chat with the old man."